Before diving into the free pattern for Halloween Trick or Treat bags, let’s talk a bit about chocolate. Did you know that an estimated 2.1 million children are used as laborers in cocoa plantations in West Africa? Did you know that children are often trafficked and sold into forced slavery harvesting cocoa beans to make chocolate? Did you know that the big giant chocolate companies know this, have had lawsuits brought against them for supporting child labor and have plans in place to end child labor practices?

At this point you may be asking yourself, isn’t this a crochet blog? What on earth does this have to do with crochet???

Well, the free pattern I am providing is for Halloween Trick or Treat bags and this is the time of the year when we spend RIDICULOUS amounts of money on candy.

I will not pretend to understand the supply chain of cocoa and chocolate, and I don’t think there is a simple solution to ending child labor in these areas. However, I do know that we have the most powerful voting tool in the form of our money and with each purchase we make, we are supporting the business practices of the seller.

It can be overwhelming to try to be an informed consumer. Many times we don’t know from where products are sourced and we don’t have an abundance of time to figure it out before making purchases. A great place to start making informed choices is with products that aren’t necessities in life. Chocolate is not a necessity. (Alright, alright-put down the pitchforks – you know it’s true although some days I feel like I am fueled only by chocolate and coffee.)

So what am I advocating? Skip the chocolate? Hardly. In fact, I think it may be helpful if you purchase MORE chocolate (bet you didn’t see that coming!) Just purchase it from brands that already have ethically sourced practices in place. I say “brands” and not just “companies” because Hershey’s bought the Dogoba brand, understanding that the market for organic and responsibly sourced products is growing. We, as consumers, have SOMUCHPOWER to vote for change not to mention to hold companies to ethical standards!

So, what decisions can you make THIS Halloween to not support child labor in the cocoa supply chain?

Sponsor a child or donate to organizations affecting change in these areas.
We sponsor a child through World Vision. There are other organizations working in those areas who I have not worked with personally.

Be a Halloween grinch – draw the shades, turn off the porch lights, don’t answer the door, and enjoy as many pieces of your ethically sourced dark chocolate morsels as you desire (this is what I will be doing – sorry kids!)

(See links towards bottom of post for further reading on child labor and the cocoa industry)

Halloween Trick or Treat Bags

Materials:

Please visit my Resources page to see why I recommend these tools and to see other recommendations.

US-Size J/10 Crochet Hook or US-size I/9

I fancy Clover Amour Hooks available on Amazon- See why I like them HERE. They are also available at Joann’s which would be a great way to use a 40% off coupon!

Finished size:

Bat bag: 9” x 9”
Heart bag: 8.5” x 8.5”

Notes:

The bat bag was made using Vanna’s Choice and a J hook. I ran out of that skein SO CLOSE to the end. I’m confident you could use one skein as I was not conservative with the yarn when starting. I also found it easier to carry the yarn across the backside instead of trying to do bobbins.

Instructions:

I worked the c2c with double crochets using 5 and 2 instead of 6 and 3. (Chain 5 to start a new row and chain 2 to start a new block)
The bag is made using one 15 by 25 rectangle. After completing the rectangle, fold the bag in half and single crochet down both sides and attach handles.

Handles:

Attach handles – I attached using a whip stitch around the base of the handles on the heart bag and on the bat bag I attached them like a button. Both work fine and keep the handles attached but the whip stitch seems more secure.

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